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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has expressed profound sadness over the passing of Leila Fowler, lawyer, educationist and visionary founder of the prestigious Vivian Fowler Memorial College for Girls in Lagos.
Fowler died at the age of 92, leaving behind a lasting legacy in Nigeria’s education sector and beyond.
Fowler, who held the traditional title, Yeye Mofin of Lagos, was widely recognised for her dedication to the advancement of girls’ education through the establishment of her eponymous all-girls college. Founded on January 8, 1991, the Vivian Fowler Memorial College began in Surulere and later relocated to its permanent site in Ikeja, Lagos. The college is acclaimed for blending British Cambridge and Nigerian curricula to offer rigorous academic programmes, including preparation for WAEC, IGCSE, SAT and TOEFL examinations. It is known for nurturing generations of young women equipped with academic excellence and leadership qualities.
In a statement by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu described Fowler’s passing as a monumental loss not only to her family and loved ones but also to the entire nation, especially the education community.
He highlighted her role as a trailblazer who “laid the foundation for academic excellence, nurturing generations of young women and empowering them to reach their fullest potential.”
The President said: “Her remarkable legacy lives on in the thousands of lives she transformed through education. Nigeria is deeply grateful for her impact, and her memory will be forever etched in our minds.”
She was also the mother of Babatunde Fowler, the former Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
President Tinubu extended his heartfelt condolences to the Fowler’s family, friends, associates, the management, staff and students of Vivian Fowler Memorial College, and the people of Lagos State.
He prayed that Almighty God would grant her soul eternal rest and comfort all who mourn her loss. The Vivian Fowler Memorial College remains a leading institution committed to the advancement of women through quality and functional education, with a strong emphasis on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) programme, extracurricular activities and a supportive boarding environment focused on holistic student development.
